playful

adjective

play·​ful ˈplā-fəl 

1

: full of play : frolicsome, sportive

a playful kitten

2

: humorous, jocular

playfully

ˈplā-fə-lē 

adverb

playfulness noun

Synonyms of playful

• amusing
• mischievous
• entertaining
• lively
• merry
• goofy
• frisky
• energetic
• sportive
• frolicsome
• antic
• happy
• delightful
• rollicking

Examples of playful in a Sentence

She's an old dog, but she's still very playful.

He had a playful expression on his face.

a playful tone of voice

You're certainly in a playful mood!

She gave him a light playful slap on the knee.

Recent Examples on the Web

The store is also offering personalization services, where their artisans gold-stamp diaries, notebooks and leather styles with initials and playful motifs. — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026

Twenty-five years on, Edebiri’s own swan style is sleek and elegant, but still playful. — Bianca Betancourt, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026

Another trend that stood out was mixed and clashing prints, creating a more playful approach to styling. — Madeleine Schulz, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026

Deafheaven have long balanced playful disdain for black metal purism with a deeper understanding of the genre than either critics or acolytes of 2013’s Sunbather gave them credit for. — Patrick Lyons, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

playful

adjective

play·​ful ˈplā-fəl 

1

: full of play : fond of playing

a playful kitten

2

: humorous

a playful tone of voice

playfully

-fə-lē 

adverb

playfulness noun